So what if I took my chances? I’d learnt not to be risk-adverse with Dad. During my teenage years I’d started to call him out. Pressured him to compliment a new dress of Anabelle’s. Comforted Amy in front of him, to make him realise he’d done wrong. Of course, it often resulted in me being grounded or missing pocket money but that was better than living a lie and letting him think he was the perfect father.
This had increasingly been the problem at Best Travel. Prue was against the slightest, best calculated risk but my nature told me that veering from the straight line, sometimes, was the only way to make progress.
Out of breath, I stopped. I’d been walking upwards for fifteen minutes. My whole body dripped with perspiration. I’d tripped over a rock and scratched my arms on bushes. I pushed myself up. My knee was bleeding. I ignored the voice in my head telling me I should have worn long trousers.
Around the corner, I came to a fork and turned left. Down I went, following a path. Nothing seemed familiar – no, scrub that, the problem was it did. The mish-mash of plants with gleaming leaves all looked the same. The sprawling canopy of trees meant only chinks of sunlight got through. I almost shrieked as I walked straight into a huge sticky spider’s web.
I brushed the silky strands away and decided to climb straight down, through vegetation. I pushed straggling foliage out of the way. My hair got tangled. A nail broke. What if I got stuck in the rainforest overnight? I might rub up against some venomous frog. Maybe there would be a bout of tropical rainfall and I’d catch hypothermia. Did wolves or bears live here? There was nothing for it. I was just about to yell for help when I heard laughing. I hurried further down, slipping every now and again in the soil underfoot. Eventually the trees began to clear.
I emerged at the back of a building and peered inside. The canteen. The chef had a round smiley face and looked as hot and discomposed as me. Smoothing down my hair, I walked around the side. Rick stood with his hands on his hips.
‘Where on earth have you been? I was just about to instruct staff to search, what with evening approaching…’
‘I decided to take a look around,’ I said. ‘I didn’t realise I had to inform anyone of my whereabouts.’
‘Well, you do – until you are more familiar with the place. With due care Seagrass Island is a perfectly safe place to explore, but newcomers need to be aware of the risks – plants that cause bad reactions on the skin, marshy areas of ground that mean you might fall and sprain your ankle and be unable to get back.’
‘I did look out for snakes,’ I said, trying not to sound totally naive.
‘You’d actually be lucky to spot one. The vibration of footsteps normally scares them off. You’re more likely to come across blood-sucking leeches and...wait a minute...’ His voice sounded strained. ‘Please tell me you’ve had your jabs.’
‘Of course,’ I said, irritated. ‘Sorry for the inconvenience.’ I wasn’t used to feeling like a nuisance. ‘I would have climbed a tree if wolves had come or—’
Was that amusement or irritation that flickered across his face?
He pulled a twig out of my hair, passed me a tissue and looked down. I followed his gaze and wiped my bleeding knee.
‘Weren’t you worried about trekking through the vegetation on your own? Anyone else might have just waited and looked around the zoo until someone returned to guide them back.’
I shrugged. ‘I’d rather give things a go myself. You don’t get anywhere in life by relying on a hand up.’
His frown softened. ‘Right… yep… okay, well, we’d better get you something to eat before chef stops serving. Your sister’s inside. The smaller building, to the left of this canteen, is the Games Room with a snooker table, darts and board games. Most people pile in there after dinner and…’
Without saying a word I went in, politely listening to him.
Amy hurried over and stared at my knee. ‘Sarah! What’s happened? Are you all right?’
‘Nothing to worry about,’ I said breezily. ‘I got lost for a while, but it… it was fun, although I’ve reassured Rick I won’t go AWOL again.’
Jonas waved and pointed to a seat next to him. I went over and sat down. Amy sat opposite. I swigged back a glass of water.
‘Rick tells me that all the electricity comes off at nine to save costs,’ I said. ‘Apparently it sets a good routine. Many volunteers are up very early if they are trail clearing or doing a bird count. He said there are torches for everyone.’
‘Living the high life, eh?’ muttered Jonas.
I couldn’t help laughing at his expression. ‘It’s funny,’ I said, gazing right, at Helga, with her starched top tucked into her trousers and scraped back hair, and then back to Jonas’s dreadlocks and flowing cotton shirt. ‘Going by appearances you look far more laidback than your sister. Yet none of this seems to faze her. She’s happily unpacked in our shack and said she couldn’t wait to see her first tarantula.’
‘I am laidback,’ he said indignantly. ‘Just in more of a… a bohemian, find-me-in-the-bar-jamming-with-musicians kind of way.’
I pushed his shoulder. Amy took me up to the serving hatch. There were flaky-looking burrito style wraps called roti, stuffed with curried meat or vegetables, with peas on the side.
‘They are delicious,’ she said, when it was my turn.
Malik’s smile widened further and he reached for my plate. ‘You must have two, after such a high recommendation.’
I went back to the table where Benedikt was also sitting and a couple of long-term volunteers. It was basic with hard chairs and reminded me of eating lunch at high school. I took several bites. The roti was delicious.
‘Curried goat,’ said someone.
I gagged. In the supermarket I liked my well-known brands. I was all for taking risks, but not when it came to food and that meant not trying other labels, let alone eating something like goat. Jonas went up to the serving area and game back with two mangos.
‘You okay?’ asked Amy and stared at my plate.
I bit into the fruit to prove I was. ‘Just a little jet lagged.’
‘Yet you sound really keen about getting started – seems like you had quite a chat with Rick.’
‘It’s going to be an experience of a lifetime.’ I avoided Jonas’s eye.
‘And there’s no time to waste, as you’ve already proven. Rick,’ she called and waved her hand across the room.
He was sitting with Jackie and an attractive woman with an infectious laugh – the Italian Carlotta he’d mentioned before. Rick had fed Chatty a hard-boiled egg and fruit. The monkey had seemed especially taken with Carlotta’s glossy black curls and they’d all grinned every time he grabbed a handful. Every ounce of me was longing to give him a cuddle. Carlotta had been here since the beginning of June. I’d spoken to her briefly whilst queuing for my roti. She’d asked if it was true that English people looked like lobsters when their skin burnt. Then she’d given one of her joyous laughs that attracted attention wherever she went. I couldn’t decide if she’d meant to insult me – until she’d said that when she burnt she looked like she’d eaten nothing but tomatoes for a week.
Rick strode over. ‘Everything all right?’
Amy scraped a chair across the floor and positioned it in between the two of us.
‘We’ve all got so many questions and I know I, for one, am too excited to wait until tomorrow to find out more. Can you just tell us a little about how the next days are going to pan out? My sister, Sarah, is especially impatient.’ She squeezed my hand.
‘That’s lovely to hear,’ said Rick and sat down, a twinkle in his eye.
Jonas choked on his water and Helga came over and clapped him on the back. I glared at my friend, hoping he’d not make me laugh.
‘Er, yes… seeing the zoo has really inspired me,’ I said. ‘So… lots of questions, like… do we get any days off?’
A muscle flinched in his cheek. ‘I can see that you’re really keen.’
‘Sarah covers all aspects.
She’s always told me success is in the detail,’ said Amy.
Rick raised an eyebrow my way. ‘That’s exactly what I’ve always thought.’
I felt uncomfortable with him so close and couldn’t help scanning his long legs… the broad shoulders… the determined jaw and soft lips.
An image flashed through my mind of the two of us strolling hand in hand along the beach. Where did that come from? Questions popped into my head. Had he ever been in love? Why did his last relationship break up?
Why did I care?
None of this would have intrigued me if he was simply a regular, friendly guy. But there was a story behind that professional exterior and a bit of mystery. It was undeniably sexy.
I’d still rather have been met at the airport by Richard Branson.
Definitely.
No question about it.
He pointed to a large white board on the wall behind us.
‘That’s the rota. It gets updated every couple of days. The main tasks are preparing the animal food and feeding them twice a day. And lots of trail clearing. Then overnight we set nets in the forest and a team will get up early, at six, to count the different birds caught and release them. This is done in various different locations – on the beach and in the forest, to monitor various species. Bird counting is also done with binoculars.’
‘I heard someone talking about rope bridges leading up to the tree canopies,’ said Benedikt.
‘Yes. There are observation points up there. Also, every night between midnight and four a.m. a group look for turtle nests on the beach, on the other side of the island. It’s quite a trek to get there. We collect the eggs, bring them back and bury them in a protected sandpit. Other tasks will include butterfly catching when the enclosure is ready and…’
He spoke of rotas to clean the shower blocks and toilets, and sessions spent helping the chef.
‘But in answer to your question,’ he said to me, ‘you have every weekend off from the work – apart from animal feeding.’
My brow relaxed. That was better than back home. Two consecutive days free every single week?
‘What is there to do in free time?’ asked Jonas and sat more upright.
‘Head over to Tortola for shopping or there’s a great selection of bars with local bands and dancing. I’ve spent many happy a night over there, unwinding to the best Caribbean beats.’
Jonas surprised everyone by pulling a harmonica out of his shorts pocket although the notes he played sounded nothing like calypso.
‘There are sailing trips,’ continued Rick. ‘Plus we run fun events – a sports day is coming up. There’s the beach here, of course. Swimming. Cricket and boules. On Sunday mornings Chef lays on a special brunch.’
There was hope.
Rick got to his feet again and yawned. ‘Tomorrow morning I’ll break you all in with a trail clearing session. We need to meet here at six. It gets too hot otherwise, as it’s hard physical work. Bring your water bottles. You can fill them up in the kitchen and take a piece of fruit and bread roll. Chef won’t have made breakfast but you’ll need something to fill you up. Make sure you wear trousers and long-sleeve tops along with insect repellent on visible skin. We’ll work until ten – as a team. And we stick together.’
He gave me a pointed look.
‘Then come back here for a proper late breakfast. Right. Time for me to take Chatty back to his bed.’ He pointed to a table by the door. ‘Help yourself to one of those torches each. The electricity will be going off in about an hour. People are starting to head off to the Games Room. I’d highly recommend that.’
‘Just don’t play cards when Rick does. He’s very competitive,’ said Jackie as she walked past.
Rick went over to get the monkey. He said hello and touched its head. Chatty sniffed and immediately climbed up Rick’s arm and sat on his shoulder, showing total trust. Jonas stacked our plates and took them over to the trolleys, which were brimming with dirty crockery. Amy went over to see the monkey. Rick encouraged her to talk to him. She stroked Chatty and told him about her job at the vet’s. Rick asked her a few questions and her voice bolder, she explained about Paws & Claws. He listened intently. She looked as happy as a child on Christmas morning.
If only Dad had paid that much attention, she might have had more confidence when it came to her abilities.
I sank into thoughts about how my time here couldn’t have had a worse start. At least the weekends sounded… normal. So what if I’d got lost? I found my way to the others, in the end. That was probably the worst experience I was going to have during this month.
‘It’s not all doom and gloom,’ I said to Jonas as we both picked up torches. ‘There’s shopping.’
‘And music,’ he said.
‘And moonlight. Don’t forget romance.’
He grinned. ‘Love that song by Nat King Cole song about there being trouble ahead.’
‘Hmm, well let’s hope not. I do like the sound of Sunday brunch.’
Jonas switched his torch on, lifted it up and cast a spotlight on his face. ‘You heard it here first, viewers,’ he said in a TV presenter’s voice. ‘Maybe one month on Seagrass Island isn’t going to be so bad after all.’
12
I’d set my alarm for half past five, just as the sun was beginning to rise. That would give us time to throw on clothes before getting to the meeting point for trail clearing. Helga was already awake and sat crossed-legged in her bed, meditating. Amy snored from the bunk below. I’d opted for the top one, away from any insects but last night questioned my decision due to hot air rising.
Optimistically I’d collapsed into bed after phoning home to check up on Nelly. However, I hadn’t slept a wink. Every inch of my skin had never been so hot and sticky. The humidity had felt like an overzealous lover wrapped around me all night. I’d worn my skimpiest nightie but that made no difference so I’d pushed my mosquito net to one side, seeing as the windows were protected anyway.
A cacophony of humming, buzzing and chirping from afar and near didn’t help my restlessness. I worried moths had found their way into the shack due to the close sound of fluttering wings. The most I heard back in London was the occasional car driving past or plane overhead, or the whirr of the central heating and fridge – identifiable sounds that felt safe.
I scratched my legs and got out from under the covers. I climbed down the bunk bed ladder. The sun hadn’t risen enough for me to be able to spot spiders on the floor and so I landed on my tiptoes. I crouched down, pulled away Amy’s mosquito net and gently pushed her shoulder. The sweaty hair and dribble running from her mouth reminded me of childhood sleepovers. She’d creep into my bed whenever Dad had upset her.
‘Where am I?’ muttered Amy.
‘In a five-star hotel, waking up to waiter service,’ I said with longing.
‘Very funny,’ she said. Helga’s eyes were open now. She’d already made her bed. I scratched my legs again and went over to the front door to examine them under better light. It had been left ajar. I’d need to have a word with the others about that. I’d suffered dubious bed partners in the past but never a snake or scorpion.
‘Oh my God – look at this rash,’ I said. My legs were covered in itchy red mounds. ‘I must be allergic to something. Or perhaps I’ve caught a tropical disease…’ Helga marched over, took my elbow and nudged me down the outside ladder. We stood on the grass. Hurriedly Amy followed.
‘No wonder I couldn’t sleep,’ I said and moaned.
Helga bent over. ‘Didn’t you use your mosquito net?’
I frowned. ‘No. The windows are so protected. Why, are these all bites?’
Her cheeks flushed. ‘It looks like it. Sorry, Sarah – I left the door open a bit, to allow in cool air. I didn’t think to mention it.’
I pursed my lips tight, like I did when I was trying to stop myself snapping back at Prue.
‘I’ve got some cream to help with the itching,’ said Helga. ‘That will ease them. We’ll be too bus
y this morning for you to notice the discomfort.’
I slathered on the cream, got changed and applied insect repellent to any exposed areas. I checked Amy had done the same and she rolled her eyes as a reply. I didn’t have time to clean my teeth or wash. I quickly applied deodorant and scraped my hair back into a scrunchie. I pulled on my Audrey Hepburn hat, ignoring the practical cap Amy had secretly packed for me. This, at least, would give me a degree of style. Yawning, I followed the others along the path to the canteen, Amy singing songs from The Jungle Book.
‘Sleep okay?’ I asked Jonas as we lagged behind the others. He tied back his dreadlocks.
‘Nein. I was hungry and lay awake thinking about strudel and sausage.’
‘What I wouldn’t do for a pizza takeaway…’
‘Apparently they sometimes serve fish soup for breakfast.’ He pretended to vomit.
I opened my mouth to join in but his shoulders drooped, his feet dragged. The face that had been laughing under the spotlight of a torch yesterday now had dark shadows and had lost its sparkle.
‘I know, it sucks, but honestly, I’m sure we’ll soon laugh about this. Remember, it’s Thursday – in two days we go shopping and can treat ourselves to a beer and ice cream. And just think of all the inspiration this holiday will give you for songwriting. This initial misery will help you create heartbreaking ballads.’
‘What? Call a tune “Miss Apple Cake, oh how I’m missing you”?’
Trying to ignore the waves of itching across my legs, I smiled.
‘The prospect of four weeks here wouldn’t seem nearly so bad if I had my guitar. Benedikt plays the piano, you know. His dad’s a piano tuner.’ Momentarily his face brightened.
I kept him talking about music. Jonas didn’t have ten years of adult experience on his side to let him realise that life was a series of ups and downs and that somehow people got through the troughs. It was human nature to grit your teeth and soldier on.
The Summer Island Swap Page 8
